The future of leadership in the Australian vegetable industry is already taking shape, with the Growing Leaders program helping equip emerging professionals to step forward with confidence, capability, and purpose.

Run by Affectus, the Growing Leaders program focuses on building self-awareness, communication and leadership capability in emerging industry professionals.

“The Growing Leaders program is conducted over three, three-day residentials in three different locations across Australia, and people with varying knowledge, experience and ideas come together to chart a future course for the industry,” explained Jill Briggs, Program Manager.

These residentials provide participants with the opportunity to step away from their day-to-day roles and engage in workshops, industry tours and discussions with supply chain experts. Participants work collaboratively in small groups, building networks while exploring ideas to strengthen the vegetable industry.

Among the 2025 cohort was Dylan Bellchambers, Field Officer for Harvest Moon in Tasmania, and Rashan Walia from Bulmer Farms in Victoria – two participants representing a new generation of leaders developing the skills and mindset needed to support the industry’s long-term future.

Dylan Bellchambers at Melbourne Markets Growing Leaders Tour.

For Rashan, the experience led to a fundamental shift in how she understood leadership: “My ideas about leadership changed during Growing Leaders. I thought leadership was about leaders telling people what to do. Growing Leaders has helped me see that I am a leader and I just need to show it more.”

This change in perspective reflects one of the program’s core strengths – encouraging participants to see leadership as something demonstrated through everyday actions, rather than formal authority.

Rashan said the program also increased her awareness of how leadership is expressed in the workplace. “I am much more aware of the chances I have to show leadership in my workplace. I am more aware of my communication style and how it is useful and not so useful. I also know I see opportunities where others don’t,” she said.

The program places a strong emphasis on self-leadership, helping individuals understand their own behaviours, strengths and influence. This focus often comes as a surprise.

“Growing Leaders was a surprise. I didn’t expect to be focusing on myself, but now, at the end of the program, I understand that leadership is about how I work and how I inspire others,” Rashan  reflected.

Rashan Walia at Melbourne Markets Growing Leaders Tour

Importantly, the outcomes extend beyond the residentials. Participants return to their workplaces with a greater awareness of how they can contribute.

The positive feedback from participants in the 2025 program reinforced the value of the experience.

“They shared that the program is hard work but highly valuable, requires time commitment and willingness to put in effort,” Jill said.

In a recent catch-up, Dylan mentioned how much he enjoys being part of the Growing Leaders alumni events and foresees that participating in them will be an ongoing undertaking.

“The connections built through Growing Leaders are just as valuable as the skills. You build a network of people who challenge, support and inspire each other to keep growing well beyond the nine-month program,” he said.

For participants like Dylan and Rashan, the program offered more than just professional development – it builds lasting connections across the industry. Growing Leaders brings together people from different regions, businesses and roles and creates a stronger, more collaborative network of emerging leaders.

As the vegetable industry continues to face challenges such as workforce pressures, supply chain complexity and changing market demands, the need for capable, adaptable leaders is only increasing. Programs like Growing Leaders play a key role in preparing individuals to take on these challenges while contributing to a more connected and resilient industry.

By investing in people early in their careers, the program is helping to shape not only individuals, but the broader culture of the sector. The focus on collaboration, communication and self-awareness reflects a shift towards a more contemporary approach to leadership, and one that aligns with the evolving needs of the industry.

For the Growing Leaders 2025 cohort, the impact was already evident. Participants returned to their workplaces with new perspectives, stronger networks and a clearer sense of their potential. In an industry built on innovation, adaptability, and strong relationships, that may be one of the most important investments of all.